What is AMD Equivalent to Core i9 [Expert Analysis 2024]

Written By Farhan Max

With the appearance of the Ryzen 9 processor in 2019, AMD began competing with Intel i9 CPUs in the computer market.

There are lots of AMD R9 and Intel i9 models, but they all differ in the generation, clock speed, cores, threads, and in performance.what-is-amd-equivalent-to-core-i9

In this article, I’ll describe the equivalent AMD and Intel i9 processors, and break down their benchmark and real-life performance.

So, let’s start.

Which AMD CPU is Equivalent to the Intel Core i9?

The AMD Ryzen 9 processors are equivalent to the Intel Core i9 processor in terms of performance. Ryzen 7000 series provides an identical benchmark compared to the Intel 13th gen CPU, and Ryzen 5000 provides similar performance to the 12th & 11th gen Intel processors.

In the computer market, the previous three generation processors are the most popular. I’ve provided the equivalent processors of the past three generations below.

Here is a table of the equivalent AMD Ryzen and Intel i9 processors:

Intel i9 ProcessorEquivalent AMD Processor
Core i9-13900K, i9-13900KF, i9-13900FAMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Core i9-12900K, i9-12900KF, i9-12900FAMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Core i9-11900K, i9-11900KF, i9-11900F, i9-11900Ryzen 9 5900X

The K in the Intel processor means the CPU is unlocked, and the F suffix denotes that the processor has no integrated GPU. All the Intel K, KF, and F series processors deliver the same performance in stock condition.

Additionally, you can enable all the cores on Windows to maximize CPU performance and reduce the task execution time.

I’ve described the specification and the benchmark comparison of the equivalent processors in the following passage.

Follow the tables and benchmark score below to understand the similar AMD processors to the Intel Core i9:

Intel i9-13900K/ i9-13900KF/ i9-13900F Vs. Ryzen 9 7950X

The latest Ryzen 9 7950X CPU is the same as the Intel 13th gen processor. Check out the tables below to see their specifications and differences.

Processori9-13900Ki9-13900KFi9-13900FRyzen 9 7950X
Clockspeed3.0 GHz3.0 GHz2.0 GHz4.5 GHz
Turbo SpeedUp to 5.8 GHzUp to 5.8 GHzUp to 5.6 GHzUp to 5.7 GHz
Cores24242416
Threads32323232
CacheL1: 1,536KB
L2: 16.0MB
L3: 36MB
L1: 1,536KB
L2: 16.0MB
L3: 36MB
L1: 1,536KB
L2: 16.0MB
L3: 36MB
L1: 1,024KB
L2: 16.0MB
L3: 64MB
Max TDP125W125W65W170W
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770N/AN/AAMD Radeon Graphics
Price$599.97$573.98$666.78$589.99

The Intel i9-13900K is the most suitable to compare with the Ryzen 9 7950X processor. The base clock speed of Ryzen 9 7950X is better, but the i9-13900K goes ahead in the boost clock speed.

The main advantage of the 13th gen i9 processor comes in the core count. The Intel i9 13th gen processor has 16 performance cores, 8 efficient cores, and 32 threads which helps to execute simple tasks, while the AMD Ryzen has 16 cores and 32 threads with no efficient core.

In addition to the specification, the benchmark score helps to categorize the CPU based on its performance. The Cinebench, Geekbench 5, and CPU Mark are popular to evaluate the synthetic benchmark of a CPU

Follow the below benchmark to compare the i9-13900K and Ryzen 9 7950X processor:i9-13900k-and-ryzen-9-7950x-processor

In both single & multi-threaded performance in Cinebench and Geekbench 5, the i9-13900K provides better scoring than Ryzen 9 7950X. However, the Ryzen 9 7000 series takes a lead over the 13th gen i9 in the CPU Mark scoring.

Intel i9-13900K and Ryzen 9 7950X both have integrated graphics cards and the prices are relatively similar in the market.

Intel i9-12900K/ i9-12900KF/ i9-12900F Vs. Ryzen 9 5950X

The AMD Ryzen 5950X CPU performs equivalently to the 12th gen Intel i9-12900K/KF/F processors. The following table will describe the specification and dissimilarities of the Ryzen and Intel processors.

Processori9-12900Ki9-12900KFi9-12900FRyzen 9 5950X
Clockspeed3.2 GHz3.2 GHz2.4 GHz3.4 GHz
Turbo SpeedUp to 5.2 GHzUp to 5.2 GHzUp to 5.1 GHzUp to 4.9 GHz
Cores16161616
Threads24242432
CacheL1: 1,152KB
L2: 6.0MB
L3: 30MB
L1: 1,152KB
L2: 6.0MB
L3: 30MB
L1: 1,280KB
L2: 12.5MB
L3: 30MB
L1: 1,024KB
L2: 8.0MB
L3: 64MB
Max TDP241W241W65W105W
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770N/AN/AN/A
Price$416.53$419.95$481.98$497.99

As you see in the above table, the 12th gen i9 processors are slightly behind the Ryzen 9 5950X processor in the clockspeed sector, but go ahead in the boost clock.

Additionally, it provides an integrated graphics card and is priced way less than the Ryzen 9 5950X CPU.

However, the Ryzen 9 5950X has more performance cores and threads compared to the Intel 12th gen processors.

Follow our ultimate guide if you want to enable all CPU cores in Windows 11.

To understand their synthetic performance, I’ve provided a benchmark of i9-12900K and Ryzen 9 5950X below.i9-12900k-vs-ryzen-9-5950x

In the simulation benchmark score, the i9-12900K is ahead of the R9 5950X in both Cinebench and Geekbench 5 in terms of single & multi-threaded performance.

However, similarly to the 13th gen processor, the 12th gen Intel processor trails behind the R9 5950X in the CPU Mark score.

Intel i9-11900K/ i9-11900KF/ i9-11900F Vs. Ryzen 9 5900X

The AMD R9 5900X is similar to the i9 11th gen i9-11900K/KF/F processor. Consider following the table below to check the differences between the Intel 11th gen and Ryzen 9 5000 series processors.

Processori9-11900Ki9-11900KFi9-11900FRyzen 9 5900X
Clockspeed3.5 GHz3.5 GHz2.5 GHz3.7 GHz
Turbo SpeedUp to 5.2 GHzUp to 5.3 GHzUp to 5.2 GHzUp to 4.8 GHz
Cores88812
Threads16161624
CacheL1: 320KB
L2: 2.0MB
L3: 16MB
L1: 320KB
L2: 2.0MB
L3: 16MB
L1: 320KB
L2: 2.0MB
L3: 16MB
L1: 768KB
L2: 6.0MB
L3: 64MB
Max TDP125W125W65W105W
iGPUN/AN/AN/AN/A
Price$349.97$388.99$428.99$340

The Ryzen 9 5900X has a better base clock speed than all the variants of Intel i9 12th gen CPU. However, it lacks behind on the turbo speed with 4.8 GHz.

Despite being behind in the boost clock speed, it provides 12 cores and 24 threads, whereas the i9-11900K only has 8 cores and 16 threads. Speaking of the CPU cost, the R9 5900X has similar pricing to the 11th gen i9 processor.

Additionally, the cache size is more than double compared to the 11th gen i9 processor. It gives a massive performance boost to the R9 5900X, which reflects in the benchmark score.

Here is the benchmark of the Intel i9-11900K and Ryzen 9 5900X:i9-11900k-vs-ryzen-9-5900k

The Ryzen 9 5900X and i9-11900K have similar performance in the single thread at both Cinebench and Geekbench 5. However, the Ryzen 9 5900X has shown its superiority over the 11th gen i9 CPU in the multi-thread benchmark.

AMD R9 5900X has provided 25-35% better performance in the multi-core scoring and almost 60% more in the CPU Mark with having an equivalent CPU price.

If you want to know which equivalent processor is better in the Intel i9 and AMD Ryzen, keep reading the following passage.

Ryzen 9 Vs. Intel Core i9: Which is Better?

AMD and Intel have been feuding in the CPU market for years. Aside from synthetic benchmarks, real-life performance has the biggest impact on choosing a CPU from Intel and AMD. Considering the performance, both Intel and AMD have superiority in different CPU generations and categories.

The real-life performance is measured by running different applications & games with the processors and scoring their performance based on their execution time and frame per second.

I’ve provided different application and gaming benchmarks below to find out the better CPU from the equivalent AMD and Intel processors, according to their real-life performance.

Follow the charts below to see the application and gaming benchmark of equivalent Intel and AMD processors:

Intel i9-13900K Vs. Ryzen 9 7950X

The Intel i9-13900K has 8 more efficient cores than the R9 7950X, which helps it to perform better in small tasks. But, in the CPU-intensive application, they both provide neck-to-neck real-life performance.i9-13900k-vs-ryzen-9-7950x

Both processors have provided great performance in the rendering sector. AMD works better in applications that need multi-core and rendering. On the other hand, Intel has an advantage in single-core performance.

Additionally, Intel Quick Sync can decrease the processing time in the Adobe application, and give you an advantage over AMD.

However, the scenario changes massively in the gaming performance. We’ve played many games with these processors and provided a benchmark below.

We used RTX 3090 Ti and 32GB ram for our testing rig. Check out the scoring below to understand the gaming performance.i9-13900k-vs-ryzen9-7950x-gaming

In most games, the Intel i9-13900K gives better FPS and stability than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. It gives you an advantage in competitive and open-world games.

When choosing a processor between i9-13900K and Ryzen 9 7950X, you need to consider the purpose of your usage. If you work mostly with the single-threaded application and play lots of games, Intel i9-13900K will be suitable for you.

In contrast, if you do video editing or rendering, and use applications that need multi-core performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X will be better for you.

In case you already have a decent CPU and want to upgrade the computer performance, consider reading the article about which components you need to upgrade first to improve the performance.

Intel i9-12900K Vs. Ryzen 9 5950X

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X has better performance cores and threads than Intel i9-12900K. But in terms of real-life application, the 12th gen processor goes ahead.

Depending on the scenario, you may not need many cores to execute programs. If you are curious, you can check out the article about how many cores you need to perform a task.

The following chart will help you to understand the performance of i9-12900K and R9 5950X in application and gaming.i9-12900k-vs-ryzen-9-5950-application

We’ve rendered our custom logo in Blender, and Intel has provided better results by executing the task quickly. Also, it has better performance in Handbrake and Adobe Premiere Pro than the R9 5950X.

However, with extensive pressure, the i9-12900K can easily go up to 100 °C, and you will need a good and compatible CPU cooler with the 12th gen to keep the temperature down. Here are the 7 best CPU coolers to buy for the 12th gen i9 processors.

While gaming, the results become more clear. Consider following the charts below to see the gaming performance.i9-12900k-vs-ryzen-95950x-gaming-benchmark

Intel i9-12900K gives a 10-20% performance boost in most of the games available in the market. Also, the 12th gen processor has an integrated graphics card with a price less than the Ryzen 9 5950X.

If you are a gamer or do lots of rendering, the i9-12900K will be a better choice over the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor.

However, if you already have the AMD Ryzen 5950X processor and want to increase the gaming performance, check out the best compatible graphics card for Ryzen 9 5950X.

Intel i9-11900K Vs. Ryzen 9 5900X

When we come to the 11th gen i9 processor, the performance table flips completely. In every aspect—gaming or application—Ryzen 9 5900X has better performance and benchmark scoring.

The following chart will clear up the differences between 11th gen Intel processors and R9 5900X.i9-11900k-vsryzen-9-5900x-application-benchmark

After running the test in Blender, Handbrake, and Adobe Premiere Pro, the Ryzen 9 5900X provided an overwhelming victory over the Intel i9-11900K.

Similarly, the Ryzen processor has shown its performance in the gaming section. Check out the following chart to see the gaming benchmark.i9-11900k-vs-ryzen-9-5900x-gmaing-benchmark

Unlike the application benchmark, Intel i9-11900K has performed better in gaming due to its stability. Still, the R9 5900X has provided better FPS in most games compared to the i9-11900K.

Both processors have similar pricing, but the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is better than Intel i9-11900K in every category.

Even in 2023, a suitable graphics card with R9 5900X can enrich your gaming experience and expectation.

After comparing the synthetic and real-life performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is quite similar to the Intel i9-13900K. While the i9-12900K is better than the R9 5950X, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is superior to the Intel i9-11900K.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Intel i9 good for gaming?

Yes, the Intel i9 processors provide a better FPS and stability to give a rich gaming experience.

Is the Ryzen 9 5900X better than i9-11900K?

Yes, the Ryzen 9 5900X is better than the i9-11900K in both benchmark and real-life performance.

Does AMD have efficient cores?

No, AMD doesn’t have efficient cores. The efficient cores are available in the Intel 12th & 13th gen processors.

Wrapping Up

When switching your processor or building a similar-performance computer from other manufacturers, it’s important to know about equivalent CPUs from AMD and Intel.

This article provides information and benchmarks about equivalent AMD and Intel processors to make your processor selection and purchase easier.

If you find this article helpful, don’t forget to share it in the comment box below.

Cheers!

About The Author
Farhan Max is a tech geek with a particular interest in computer hardware. He's been fascinated by gaming since childhood and is now completing his undergraduate studies while researching and testing the latest tech innovations. Alongside his love for all things geeky, Farhan is also a skilled photographer.

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